|
June 19 - Vence
We’ll meet your flight at the Nice/Côte d’Azur
airport and transport you to our hotel in Vence. This ancient
walled village, only six miles from the beaches of the Côte
d’Azur, is high enough in the hills to be free of the crush of
beach cruising tourists that can ruin anyone's vacation. We’ll
all be busy assembling bikes, sightseeing, or just relaxing from
our travels, so we offer several suggestions for a quick
shakedown ride before our get-acquainted dinner tonight.
Dinner will be at the hotel overlooking the garden and pool.
June 20 - Sospel - 72mi, 6000ft altitude gain
Our grand tour starts quite casually, as we take a long winding
forested road down the Gorge du Loop to the seacoast. Here we
encounter the only real traffic of the entire tour, necessary
for traversing the city of Nice. However we will take the
beautiful coast road through town and then climb out of town on
the high corniche road. After lunch in la Turbie we climb the
Col de la Madone, which has been Lance Armstrong’s fitness test
climb. From here the road twists relentlessly up the steep
valley to Sospel, a town carefully restored from the damage of
unsuccessful Allied attempts at unseating the German occupants
during the last war. The mind boggles at the immense amount of
scenery we try to absorb fully today, but that will soon be
replaced in the days to come with many more description-defying
panoramas.
June 21 - St Martin-Vesubie –33mi, 5800ft, or
55mi, 8800ft, or 84mi, 10,100ft
The region that we cycle through today is extraordinarily
rugged; one wonders why there are roads here. The proximity to
Nice and the historical trade routes (especially the salt route)
have over time encouraged and sustained a number of small
villages. Because of their remoteness they were relatively safe
from pirates and marauding armies; over the course of time, they
were connected by small roads. These roads are cut into the
sides of mountains and cliffs, snaking and winding from village
to village, over passes, and down steep gorges. On a bike tour
that probably has more curves and switchbacks than any other
bike tour
anywhere,
today is one of constant switchbacks, impressive views, and
nonstop fun.
June 22 - Barcelonnette - 72mi, 9400ft
At 9000 feet, the Col de la Bonette is the highest paved pass in
Europe, and the single longest climb, starting at sea level in
Nice some 65 miles away. After an early morning cruise up the
Col de St Martin, we start the big climb at the 1600ft elevation
mark, with 33 miles and 7400ft of cycling to the top. Words
cannot describe the impressive views and amazing scenery of the
upper reaches of this pass. It is as if we are cycling through
the heavens. Not to be forgotten is the great descent to
Barcelonnette, a year-round resort town.
June 23 - Barcelonnette loop - 77mi, 10,700ft
After the past two tough days of cycling, today might be a good
day for a rest, but hold on to your handlebar tape, because we
have an amazing ride in store. Three big passes await us, the
Col d’Allos, the Col des Champs, and the Col de la Cayolle. One
might recognize these names from past Tour de France stages, and
these climbs are considered leg breakers even for the pros.
This area is so beautiful, that any unused film in your camera
will be long gone by the time we coast back to our hotel.
June 24 - Barcelonnette - Rest day or Loop ride,
75mi, 5500ft
After three days averaging over 10,000ft, today’s
ride will be quite relaxing. The Col de Vars, a some times
“Tour” climb is very beautiful, and the wild flowers will be at
their peak.
June 25 - Chichilianne - 100mi, 7100ft
We start the day with a gradual 13 mile descent, and continue
easy cycling for another 27 miles before we turn back into the
mountains on a series narrow roads. Most of the remaining day
is spent climbing similar roads as we ride through a remote and
beautiful area of the Alps never used in the “Tour.” We will
have wonderful vistas of the brilliant spring colors that will
carpet the high mountain hillsides, especially on the Col du
Noyer. Winding through the tall mountains we will find our end
of the day chateau beneath the sheer cliffs of Mont Aiguille in
the tiny settlement of Chichilianne.
June 26 - Orpierre - 75mi, 7200ft
Today’s route has no big name cols, though lots
of climbing, it has no tourist attractions, but still incredible
scenery, there are no big cities, only small villages, all in
all one of the best days of cycling in a tour of great days of
cycling. Our route goes through one of the more remote areas of
Provece, if not all of France. There are almost no restaurants
and fewer hotels, so our wonderful little hotel is quite a
surprise. Be sure to try the excellent beer and if we are lucky
the owner will prepare homemade potato chips.
June 27 - Sault - 90mi, 9400ft
More of the little roads that we seem to be able to enjoy all to
ourselves lead us over a few more minor passes to a well advised
lunch stop in Sault. A shot distance brings us to the Gorges de
la Nesque. This is not only a very beautiful gorge, it is also
a 20km, winding, gradual descent, perfect for an exhilarating,
high speed pace line. Up next we will tackle Mont Ventoux from
the south; perhaps the hardest climb in the Alps. The constant
10% to 13% climbing with no relief is very difficult and will
make the battles of the Tour de France even more impressive.
The gradual descent to Sault is a welcome relief and the
swimming pool at our country inn pushes us to greater speeds.
June 28 - Digne-les-Bains - 75mi, 6200ft, or
81mi, 5900ft
The sweet smell of lavender may fill the air from
the recent bloomed fields of purple blossoms, this will be the
backdrop for our climb of Dead Man’s Pass (Col de l’Homme
Mort). A wonderfully long gradual descent brings us to Sisteron
for a hearty lunch. From here we venture into a very remote
area as we climb through a series of three high valleys,
followed by two of the best rip-roaring descents of our tour,
into Digne-les-Bains. Our hotel is quite elegant but the beers
should be enjoyed at one of the nearby outdoor bars.
June 29 - Digne-les-Bains - rest day, or 55mi,
3500ft
Even the Tour de France has a rest day, as do we, but still
there is some must do riding today. But this
is
a rest day so the riding is easy and as usual the scenery is
quite spectacular. It is a very gradual climb up to a small col,
after winding up through two gorges. Early risers will be able
to return to Digne for lunch and an afternoon of relaxing along
the tree shaded city center. The rest of the late risers can
have a peaceful lunch in Seyne before coasting back to our
hotel.
June 30 - Castellane - 35mi, 4400ft, or 71mi,
5700ft, or 83mi, 8500ft
Ever faithful to our theme of tiny roads in remote areas,
today’s ride will present a great array of routes. We will be
zigzagging up and down five mountain valleys. The mountains are
not huge and the passes between valleys will not be too
challenging, but the area is beautiful and the riding will
easily be better than anything back home. It should be noted
that the short route is the route that Napoleon took between
Castellane and Digne on his return to France from exile on the
island of Elba.
July 1 - Castellane - 68mi, 8700ft
For sheer, staggering, awe inspiring, scenic beauty, today ‘s
ride is probably the best. The Grand Canyon du Verdon is one of
the most impressive natural wonders of Europe, yet it was not
discovered until 1905. Of course the locals knew it well, but
its remoteness kept it hidden from the world. Agriculturally
useless, and almost inaccessible, the 13 mile canyon has sheer
limestone cliffs 1000 to 3000 ft high and less than one half
mile apart. Shortly after leaving Castellane we enter the
narrow canyon, climbing to a small col, soon we come to an
incredible view as the vertical cliffs plunge 500 feet to the
river below. We now follow the cliffs around the entire Canyon
du Verdon, twice descending to the canyon floor before finally
climbing up the gorge back to Castellane. This day of cycling
has been described by more than one customer as the single best
day of cycling in their entire cycling career.
July 2 - Valberg - 83mi, 8700ft, or 66mi,
8000ft
Again keeping to our theme of small roads, today we take some
doozies. In really remote places, these little roads can become
even smaller and more treacherous, serving up some 16% to 19%
climbs on the easy route!!! On the long route there will be no
Van support, as it will have to drive around. However this
morning’s ride will be one of the most fun of the entire tour.
One can easily forget that someone had to build all these roads
through the Alps, but riding up the Gorge de Daluis we are
reminded that someone had to put this road here, as it winds
through and around the dark red cliffs. Tonight’s stop is in
the ski-resort town of Valberg.
July 3 - Vence - 69mi, 4500ft, or 90mi, 6400ft
This is our last day of riding, and what a day it is, some of
the best scenery of the whole tour. After a short descent past
Beuil (pastry, anyone?), we enter the Gorges du Cians. The
vertical cliff walls are so tight that the sun rarely shines on
our road, but the intense red color of the rock gives an eerie
glow to our rapid descent. The long route climbs past Beuil and
the ensuing descent is perhaps the best of the tour. After
crossing the Var River one might notice that the vegetation is
changing from dry mountain plants to a more tropical nature.
Here the climate is warmer and more humid; we definitely are
getting close to the Mediterranean and the end of our trail.
Our last major climb tops out on a ridge, high above the Var
behind us, and the steep hills that plunge into the sea before
us. After a very long, gradual descent, we eventually climb
from the valley floor up to the Col du Vence (for the long route
add 14mi, and 2300ft). One last all-too-quick and screaming
descent, we are at the hotel in Vence, where we’ll pack up and
enjoy our last dinner together.
July4 - Departure
– Van transport provided to the Nice airport or train station.
COST $2995.00 per person based on Double Occupancy
$550 Single Supplement
INCLUDES
·2-3 star Hotel Accommodations ·
·Breakfast daily (except arrival day) ·Dinner daily (except one night and arrival/departure
days)
·Airport transfers from/to Nice airport
·Bike mechanic and van
support with cellular phone
·Ground transportation for all passengers, luggage & bikes
·Regional map plus detailed daily route maps & cue sheets
NOT INCLUDED
·International airfare
·Tips, gratuities, laundry, telephone, & items of a personal
nature
·Lunches and alcoholic beverages (a supplemental fee will be
charged for those who want wine with dinner, and can be prepaid
before departure)
PRE-TRIP PLANNING
A complete trip packet will be sent upon receipt of your final payment, including tour t-shirt, hotel lists, maps, and luggage tags. Our guidebook containing
information on what to bring, how to pack your bike for flying, equipment list, and changing currencies, will be sent upon receipt of your secondary deposit (due by March 1). All participants must possess a current passport.
TRAVEL
INSURANCE Erickson Cycle Tours strongly recommends purchasing insurance for trip cancellation, injury, illness, and loss of effects. A traveler's insurance brochure will be included in your confirmation letter.
AIRFARE
We offer the services of our travel agent, Shannon or Steve of
Rogue Travel, in obtaining economical, expedient air
reservations, and we can assist with lodging for pre- and
post-tour plans. For flight information, contact Rogue Travel at
1.800.443.9216, or
shannon@mind.net. If you prefer you may use the services of
your own travel agent.
|
